Conquering the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass

Posted on August 5, 2015

Located on a road named Hanh Phuc (Happiness) connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, Ma Pi Leng is the name of the most treacherous mountain pass in Vietnam, in the northern province of Ha Giang, with a length of 20 km.

Hanh Phuc was built by thousands of people from 16 ethnic groups from eight northern provinces of Vietnam between 1959 and 1965. The road passing Ma Pi Leng was built over 11 months by volunteers, who had to hang themselves on the cliff to build each inch of the road.

The rugged rocky mountains along the road.

The winding Pai Lung steep before the peak of Ma Pi Leng Pass.

Many workers died to build the road through the Pass.

With rugged terrain and spectacular unspoiled scenery, Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the “top four passes” of northern Vietnam (along with Pha Din, O Quy Ho and Khau Pha).

You will see many Hmong people walking on the road. They are on their way to the markets of Dong Van and Meo Vac. Sometimes drunk people sleep on the roadside.